SEMPORNA: Dive instructor Zainal Abdun who died off Kalapuan island here on Friday had wanted to fulfil his father's wish to perform the Haj.
Abdun Jamarun, 50, said his eldest son had enquired him over his savings to perform the Fifth Pillar of Islam.
“I told him that I do not have enough money yet and he wanted to help me out. I refused, as he still had many responsibilities to shoulder,” he said, adding that both of them were quite close despite living separately.
He said the last time he met Zainal was at 8pm on Thursday.
During the incident, which also killed two Chinese tourists, Abdun said he was at the market when he received a call that his son had drowned.
“I was informed at about 4pm and upon reaching the jetty, Zainal had already been sent to hospital. I rushed to the hospital and was informed that he was severely wounded and had a slim chance to survive,” he said.
Abdun said he could not believe that such an incident could happen to his son, who was a professional dive instructor and had spent the last 10 years in the field.
“Until now, the body is still at Tawau hospital pending for post-mortem and police investigation. We are ready to take him and bury him,” he said, adding that Zainal would be buried at Kampung Bangau Bangau cemetery.